The Birth of the Modern World? The Renaissance c. 1400 – 1600 The Birth of the Modern World?

What IS the Renaissance? Renaissance: French word for rebirth Rebirth of what? Art Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Literature Science Astronomy, Anatomy, Physics Learning Classical Greek and Roman texts Opulence: fantastic wealth

What IS the Renaissance? A new way of thinking & learning known as Humanism emerged Humanism: People are capable of anything and everything Focus on CHOICE Optimistic belief that humans do anything Focus on ACHIEVEMENT Focus on humanities as subjects of study Literature, Rhetoric (speech), Poetry, History, Latin, Greek Art & philosophy are more focused on man than god

Humanism in Quotes From Pico’s Oration on the Dignity of Man (1487) “There is nothing to be seen more marvelous than man” “What a great miracle is man” Man is the “free and proud shaper of his own being” Man as a “chameleon”

What CAUSED the Renaissance? The Crusades Increase in trade Cause: Europeans learn about new products while on Crusades Effect: Italian merchants get rich and use $ to sponsor artists Increase in learning and curiosity Cause: contact with advanced Islamic civilization Effects: Renewed interest in learning, especially of ancient Greece/ Rome Mixing of ideas from different culture

What CAUSED the Renaissance? The Plague Feudal system broke down Serfs now allowed to leave manors Cities grow as serfs seek work Becomes easier for people to move up in society Fewer people = more wealth per person Nobles lose power, kings gain power Partially due to the rise of a middle class Guns changed the way wars were fought Skilled warriors (Knights) no longer needed So King no longer needs nobles/ Knights for protection

Why did the Renaissance start in ITALY? Location, location, location Italy is the crossroads of trade routes between Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Italian merchants get very wealthy Italian merchants exposed to many cultures Heritage of ancient Rome New economic and political ideas Invention of new systems of banking City-states were competing Tried to outdo each other with works of art & beauty of cities

Why did the Renaissance start in ITALY? The Crusaders passed through Italy Italians profited from transporting goods and people to the Holy Land Ideas always travel alongside goods

Why did the Renaissance start in ITALY? Location: Italy was the crossroads between Europe and the rest of the world Italians profited from controlling trade between Europe and the rest of the world Ideas always travel alongside goods

Why did the Renaissance start in ITALY? Italian city-states competing for power None was strong enough to conquer others This allowed them to focus on trade and art Heritage of ancient Rome

Why is the Renaissance considered the beginning of MODERN TIMES? INDEPENDENT thought People “broke the intellectual chains” of the Church (focus on man, not on god) Reliance on REASON Rather than on pure faith Birth of modern SCIENCE Universe is heliocentric, not geocentric OPTIMISTIC Belief in the improvement of society Focus on talents and achievements of individuals

Why did SCIENCE advance during the Renaissance? Crusades Europeans came into contact with Arab civilization Arab society had made many scientific advancements Europeans become more curious about the world Increase in geography and cartography (map-making) Humanism Focus on man rather than God Increase in study of anatomy Printing Press Literacy improves Ideas can spread rapidly Wealth Rich sponsored scientists (as they did with artists) Scientists can work without financial constraints

How was Renaissance Art DIFFERENT than Medieval Art? Religious subject matter Dark colors Depressing, scary Unrealistic, 2-D No perspective (flat) Bulky, dark buildings Sponsored by Church officials Renaissance Many subjects Bright colors Optimistic, happy Realistic, 3-D Perspective Bright, airy buildings Sponsored by merchants, rulers

How did Renaissance ART express HUMANIST ideals? Focus on individual Focus on secular (non-religious) themes Focus on this world, instead of afterworld Influenced by Greek and Roman art Beauty of human form Brighter colors (optimistic, hopeful) More realistic Balance: artists used mathematical ideas to compose their works

Where did the Renaissance SPREAD to? All over Europe Ideas traveled north with trade goods Spain, France, Germany Northern Renaissance England, Holland, Denmark

What is a “Renaissance Man?” Broad knowledge about many things in different fields. Deep knowledge/ skill in one subject. Able to link information from different subjects to create new knowledge. The Greek ideal of the “well-rounded man” was at the heart of Renaissance education.